M-R747,C7 

R66 

c*  Z 


Ranayne 

An  address  delivered  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  lectures  in  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
in  the  City  of  New  York 


[ 

Columbia  (Hnttiersfttp 

intljeCitpoflfttigcrk 

i 

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^^^^^ 

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i 

Digitized  by  the  Internet  Arcinive 

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A    .<" 


\' 


AN 

ADDRESS,  ■ 

DELIVERED    AT    THE 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  LECTURES, 

IN    THE 

COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS 

IN    THE 

CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 
%  NICHOLAS  ROMAYNE,  M.  D. 

PRESIDENT  OF  tHE  COLLEGE,,   FELLOW  OF   THE   ROTAL  COLLEGE 

OF  PHrSICIANS  OF  EDINBURGH,  LICENTIATE  OF  THE  ROTAL 

COLLEGE  OF    PHYSICIANS  OF   LONDON,   Ifc. 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 


NEW-YORK: 

PRINTED    BY    COLLINS    AND    PERKINS, 

Printers  to  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons. 
1808.  • 


79? 


^ 


0.2, 


AN 

ADDRESS, 

DELIVERED    AT    THE 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  LECTURES, 

IN    THE 

COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS 
IN  THE  CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 


Gentlemen, 

THE  Regents  of  the  Uni- 
verfity  of  this  ftate,  in  their  paternal  foli- 
citude  for  the  advancement  of  fcience, 
have  deemed  it  expedient  to  eftablifh  this 
College  of  Phylicians  and  Surgeons.  The 
immediate  care  of  the  inftitution  is  en- 
trufted  to  profefTional  gentlemen,  ma- 
ny of  whom  have  been  diftinguilhed 
for  a  love  of  knowledge,  and  an  ardent 
zeal  for  its  promotion. 


(     4     ) 

The    great    advantages   arifing   to    {o^ 
ciety,  from   well   regulated   public    femi- 
naries    of    learning,    have    always    been 
apparent  to    the  venerable  fages    and  il- 
luftrious    legiflators   of   ancient  and  mo- 
dern  times.       Schools    for    education   are 
nearly  coeval  with  the  dawnings    of  fci- 
ence.     Our  European  anceflors,  fome  time 
after  the  firft  emigrations  to  this  American 
continent,    founded    literary   inftitutions. 
Their  defcendants,  with  laudable  zeal,  have 
continued  to  promote  them  in  proportion 
to   the   aggrandizement  and  population  of 
the   country;  but  the   eftablifhment  of  a 
college  in  the  new  world,  for  the  fole  pur- 
pofe  of  promoting  medical  education,  was 
firft  directed  by  a  law  of  this  ftate,  upon 
an  application  of  the  Regents  of  the  Uni- 
verfity  to  the  legiflature,  for  that  purpofe. 
This  inftitution,  having  been  organized 
with  as   much   care  and  attention  as  cir- 
cumftances    would    permit,    the    different 
profefTors  and  teachers  have  been  directed 
to   commence,  at  this   time,  their   feveral 
courfes  of  inftruction.     On  this  interefting 


(    s    ) 

occaiion,  when  the  ufefulnefs  and  import- 
ance of  this  eftabliihment  are  about  to  be 
unfolded  to  the  public,  it  is  made  my  duty 
to  addrefs  this  aflembly. 

The  extraordinary  and  eventful  changes 
which  have  been  effected  in  the  human 
character,  by  the  improvement  of  know- 
ledge, and  rational  enquiries  into  the  works 
and  operations  of  nature,  cannot  fail  to 
awaken  a  train  of  reflections  in  the  mind, 
connected  with  the  nature  of  man  and  li- 
terary inftitutions. 

From  reafon  and  experience  it  is  fuiE- 
ciently  manifefl,  that  in  all  the  varieties  of 
the  human  fpecies,  however  diverlified  in 
their  relative  fituations  on  this  globe,  there 
are  implanted  by  the  hand  of  the  Creator, 
certain  propenfities  or  wants,  which  impel 
man  to  action  both  of  body  and  inind.  In 
a  ftate  of  nature,  he  is  compelled  to  pro- 
vide for  himfelf  food  and  clothing  ;  in  the 
colder  latitudes  he  reforts  to  fifhing  and 
hunting  ;  in  the  tropical  regions  he  is  more 
eafily  fupplied  by  the  bounties   of  nature 


(     6     ) 

from  vegetable  bodies.  When  fheltered 
from  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather,  and 
furniflied  with  food  and  raiment,  his  inven- 
tive genius  begins  gradually  to  difplay  it- 
felf,  until,  by  contemplation  and  fludy,  he 
arrives  at  that  degree  of  excellence  to  which 
he  is  exalted  in  highly  civilifed  and  polifh- 
ed  life. 

A  luminous  and  flriking  picture  of  pri- 
mitive ages,  mufl  have  been  exhibited 
among  the  Indian  nations  who  inhabited 
the  countries  which  form  thefe  United 
States.  In  this  flate,  the  five  confederated 
Indian  nations  were  a  warlike  people,  hav- 
ing no  eftablifhed  authority,  but  fuch  as 
was  acquired  by  approved  bravery  in  war 
or  eloquence  in  council.  To  fuch  fuperi- 
or  merit  obedience  was  yielded ;  but  the 
fachems  or  chiefs  were  mere  advifers  or 
counfellors,  without  any  coercive  powers. 
Hereditary  or  eledlive  government  was  to 
them  equally  unknown.  They  had  no  na- 
tional tenets  of  religion ;  no  eflabliflied 
modes  or  public  places  of  worfhip  ;  no  or- 
der of  priefts.     Time  was  meafured  by  the 


(    7    )     ■ 

revolutions  of  the  earth,  the  phafes  of  the 
moon,  and  the  viciflitudes  of  the  feafons. 

If  we  contemplate  farther  the  character  of 
thefe  original  men,  in  their  fuppofed  ftate 
of  nature,  we  find  them  averfe  to  labour  ; 
wanting  in  habits  of  induflry ;  devoting 
their  attention  to  hunting  and  warfare,  and 
pofFefling  a  ftudied  indifference  to  the  ob- 
jecfls  around  them.  Their  chief  glory  con- 
lifted  in  fortitude  and  adls  of  heroifm ;  in 
bearing  without  murmur  the  pains  of  tor- 
ture and  the  ills  of  life.  They  held  in  con- 
tempt the  paflion  of  fear ;  were  grave  in 
their  difpofitions  ;  refpe(5tful  to  each  other; 
attached  to  their  friends  ;  cruel  and  vindic- 
tive to  their  enemies. 

Among  thefe  people  were  found  faint 
traces  of  agriculture,  arts,  and  fcience. 
They  had  paintings  and  figns,  or  marks,  to 
convey  fome  few  events  and  fimple  ideas. 
Every  menial  office,  at  home  or  in  the 
field,  was  performed  by  women.  In  the 
cure  of  difeafes,  they  made  ufe  of  fcarifi- 
cations,  fomentations,  fweating,  cold  bath- 


(     8     ) 

ing,  and  the  external  and  internal  ufe  of 
certain  vegetable  fubftances,  which  experi- 
ence had  taught  them  to  be  pofTefTed  of 
medicinal  virtues.  Thefe  were  adminis- 
tered by  women  in  their  villages,  or  their 
leading  men  in  their  war  excurfions.  In 
common  with  other  favage  people,  they 
have  on  all  occafions  treated  with  particu- 
lar refped:,  perfons  fkilled  in  the  healing 
art. 

If  we  examine  the  character  of  the  more 
northern  American  Indians,  dwelling  on 
the  coafl  of  Labrador,  when  they  were  firfl 
noticed  by  European  obfervers,  we  find 
them  a  people  in  a  flate  of  ftupid  indiffer- 
ence, little  removed  from  the  brute  crea- 
tion. They  lived  in  caverns,  held  little 
intercourfe  with  each  other,  and  were  un- 
acquainted with  the  element  of  fire,  though 
they  occupied  one  of  the  coldefl  climates  of 
the  earth. 

In  the  more  advanced  flate  of  fociety,  wc 
firfl  fee  the  unequal  diflribution  of  wealth 
and  talents  engaged  in  elevating  genius  to 


(     9     ) 

the  high  rank  which  infinite  wifdom  di- 
redls  ;  and  there,  alfo,  we  firfl  fee  it  per- 
verted to  the  purpofes  of  vanity,  intereft, 
or  ambition,  prejudicing  our  underfland- 
ings,  and  debafing  our  nature. 

The  ftate  of  fociety  and  manners  among 
the  original  people,  who  inhabited  the 
countries  of  this  continent  within  the  tro- 
pics, were  different  from  thofe  of  the  north. 
The  abundant  and  rapid  produdlions  of 
animal  and  vegetable  bodies,  ufed  as  food 
by  man,  foon  placed  the  inhabitants  of 
Mexico  and  Peru  in  a  ftate  of  eafe  and  opu- 
lence, which  led  them  to  obfervation  and. 
ftudy,  and  to  the  improvement  of  the  arts, 
the  eftablifliment  of  cities,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  empires. 

The  people  of  Mexico  and  Peru  were  not 
compelled,  like  their  northern  neighbours 
in  thefe  ftates,  to  the  perpetual  purfuit  of 
means  to  fupport  their  exiftence,  but  were 
allowed  leifure  to  indulge  in  fpeculations 
of  the  underftanding,  which  were  rude 
and   imperfect ;  and  to  view  with  adora- 

B 


(        lO       ) 

tion  thofe  objedts  and  characters  which  af- 
fe(5led  their  imaginations  as  fublime  and 
great.  The  Peruvians  worlhipped  the  fun, 
that  great  luminary,  which  by  rude  man 
is  confidered  the  god  of  this  world,  and 
the  parent  of  great  and  virtuous  men, 
which  influences  in  a  powerful  manner 
this  globe,  and  whofe  genial  warmth  is 
intimately  connecfled  with  the  produ(5lion 
of  animal  and  vegetable  life.  The  Mexi- 
cans paid  adoration  to  divinities,  whofe 
ferocious  vengeance,  they  fuppofed,  would 
be  fatisfied  by  human  blood  only,  which 
confequently  flowed  in  llreams  as  facrifices 
to  their  gods. 

Thefe,  and  correfponding  facfls,  fufii- 
ciently  demonftrate,  that  when  man  in  a 
fliate  of  nature,  indulges  in  religious  re- 
flections, he  is  ufually  led  to  the  fources 
of  idolatry,  from  which  he  is  afterwards 
withdrawn  by  the  benign  influence  of 
revelation,  and  the  power  of  reafon. 
Under  the  controul  of  fuperfliitious  o- 
pinions,     men     are    difpofed    to    believe 


{  "  ) 

that  difeafes  are  produced  by  fuperna- 
tural  caufes,  and  are  to  be  relieved  or  cur- 
ed only  by  incantations  and  charms,  or 
means  equally  extravagant.  In  a  more  ad- 
vanced ftate  of  fbciety,  thefe  feniiments  are 
fometimes  cherifhed  by  the  ignorant  or  in- 
dolent, who  have  neither  genius  nor  indus- 
try to  examine  the  operations  of  nature. 

The  Mexicans  and  Peruvians,  however, 
were  not  totally  uninformed  in  their  no- 
tions of  difeafes,  or  in  their  opinions  of 
remedies.  Montezuma  tranfplanted  into 
his  garden  fpecimens  of  all  the  medicinal 
plants  produced  in  his  empire  ;  and  oppor- 
tunities of  fludying  their  properties  were 
afforded  to  his  people.  He  diflributed 
thefe  plants  when  prefcribed  for,  or  defir- 
ed  by  the  lick ;  thus  fulfilling  the  highefl 
obligations  of  a  fovereign.  Thefe  people 
introduced  into  the  Materia  Medica  fome 
powerful  and  valuable  medicines,  which 
were  before  unknown  to  the  European 
phyficians :  jalap,  guaiacum,  farfaparilla, 


(  I^  ) 

Peruvian  bark,  and  ipecacuanha,  were  plants 
of  their  country,  and  ufed  by  them  in  the 
cure  of  difeafes. 

The  Mexicans,  notwithflanding  the  hu- 
man facrifices  offered  to  their  idols,  faid 
to  amount  to  fifty  thoufand  perfons  a  year, 
in  the  whole  extent  of  the  empire,  before 
its  conqueft  by  the  Spaniards,  were  in 
every  other  refpedl,  the  moft  ingenious 
and  civil ifed  part  of  the  original  race  of 
people  found  on  this  continent  by  the  Eu- 
ropean adventurers.  They  were  confidera- 
bly  advanced  in  many  branches  of  fcience ; 
in  the  knowledge  of  agriculture,  and  in 
fome  of  the  arts  which  ornament  and  add 
comfort  to  civilifed  life.  Not  being  ac- 
quainted with  letters  or  hieroglyphick  cha- 
racters, they  reprefented  material  things 
by  their  proper  figures.  To  fave  labour, 
paper,  and  colours,  they  contented  them- 
felves  to  reprefent  part  of  an  objed,  which 
was  fufficient  to  make  it  underflood,  and 
which  ferved  them  in  place  of  writing. 
Thefe  paintings  were  only  monuments  or 


(     13     ) 

aids  to  traditions,  which  private  and  pub- 
lic teachers  were  employed  to  explain  more 
fully  to  their  pupils.  They  made  them 
learn  fpeeches  and  difcourfes,  which  they 
could  not  exprefs  by  the  pencil.  They  put 
the  events  of  their  anceftors  into  verfe, 
which  they  were  taught  to  fing.  Thefe  tradi- 
tions difpelled  the  doubts,  and  explained 
the  ambiguities  which  painting  alone  might 
have  occafioned.  By  the  affiftance  of  thefe 
monuments,  they  perpetuated  the  memory 
of  their  heroes  and  virtuous  men,  their 
mythology,  learning,  laws,  rights,  and  cuf- 
toms.  For  the  like  purpofes,  the  Peruvians 
made  ufe  of  threads  of  different  colours, 
and  differently  knotted.  Both  the  Mexi- 
cans and  Peruvians  had  fchools  and  col- 
leges eflablillied  in  their  empires,  which 
afforded  inftru6lion  in  the  various  branch- 
es of  knowledge  they  poffeffed. 

Such  was  the  ftate  of  learning  and  know- 
ledge among  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this 
continent,  who,  whatever  may  be  their  ori- 
gin, are  only  known  to  us  as  a  diftindl  vari- 


(     H    ) 

ety  of  the  human  race ;  of  copper-coloured 
complexions,  remarkably  eredl,  coarfe  black 
hair,  harfh  features,  and  fcantily  fupplied 
with  beard  ;  free  and  fatisfied  with  their 
condition,  obftinate  in  their  tempers,  paint- 
ing their  bodies,  and  regulating  their  pro- 
ceedings by  traditional  cufloms,  pofTefling 
a  vigour  of  mind  and  body  which  appears 
to  be  unchanged  by  the  various  climates  of 
the  American  continent ;  but  who,  fince 
the  European  ellabliihments  in  the  new 
world,  feem  to  be  finking  into  a  ftate  of 
degradation,  unworthy  of  their  former 
rank  and  dignity ;  yet  proudly  refufing  to 
copy  our  manners,  or  receive  our  lelTons  of 
inftrudtion. 

The  vaft  eaflern  continent  of  this  globe, 
is  chiefly  inhabited  by  three  dillindl  va- 
rieties of  the  human  race.  The  greateft 
part  of  Afia  was,  perhaps,  originally  pof- 
feffed  by  a  peculiar  race  of  men,  diflin- 
guifhed  by  footy  complexions,  melancho- 
lic temperaments,  ftrong  black  hair,  dark 
brown  eyes,    grave   in  their  difpofitions, 


{    ^s   ) 

haughty  and  covetous  in  their  manners, 
and  governed  by  opinions.  The  defcend- 
ants  of  thefe  people  flill  occupy  the  more 
fertile  territories  of  that  delightful  portion 
of  this  earth,  and  which  is  the  more  inter- 
efting  from  the  belief,  that  it  was  the  ori^ 
ginal  country  of  man.  In  remote  ages, 
the  people  inhabiting  the  banks  of  the  Eu- 
phrates, the  Tygris,  the  Indus,  and  the 
Ganges,  the  plains  of  Indoftan,  and  the 
fertile  fields  of  the  ancient  and  wonderful 
empire  of  China,  were  placed  in  fituations 
which  led  them  to  thought  and  reflection, 
and  to  unfold  the  powers  of  the  under- 
ftanding  ;  while  the  people  in  the  north  of 
Afia  have  at  no  time  been  far  removed  from 
a  ftate  of  nature. 

From  the  melancholic  temperament  of 
thefe  Afiatic  people,  they  have  been  always 
difpofed  to  fuperftition,  and  ftrongly  im- 
prelFed  with  a  fenfe  of  their  own  unwor- 
thinefs  and  debafement.  They  have  fub- 
mitted  in  all  ages  to  the  moft  arbitrary 
forms  of  government,  and  to  almoil  every 


{     '6     ) 

conqueror  who  approached  their  coun- 
try ;  yet  they  have  the  higheft  preten- 
lions  to  fertile  and  lively  imaginations ; 
and  have  certainly  furnilhed  the  world 
with  the  moft  valuable  lefTons  in  moral 
wifdom.  Their  early  eiffbrts  to  promote 
the  arts  and  fciences,  have  gained  them 
high  claims  to  coniideration,  and  enabled 
them  to  diffufe  their  religious  opinions  and 
ingenious  arts  ;  which  flowed  from  them 
as  from  a  fountain,  to  the  reft  of  human- 
kind. 

It  would  be  improper  in  me,  gentlemen, 
to  take  up  your  time,  by  dwelling  on  the 
fertile  genius  of  the  original  inhabitants  of 
Afia,  who,  in  all  ages,  have  had  a  re- 
verence for  knowledge,  and  the  ufeful 
arts.  By  general  confent,  they  are  al- 
lowed to  be  the  inventors  of  letters  and 
hieroglyphick  characters,  which  have  had 
very  important  effedls  in  difFuling,  pro- 
moting, and  preferving  knowledge  among 
men.  They  were  early  inventors  of  arts 
and  manufactures.     They  were  engaged. 


(     '7    ) 

in  very  remote  ages,  in  commerce  and  na- 
vigation. They  were  among  the  firfl  im- 
provers in  aftronomy ;  though  from  the 
nature  of  the  cUmate  and  other  caufes, 
they  had  but  rude  notions  of  anatomy,  and 
of  the  functions  of  the  human  body  ;  yet 
they  were  attentive  to  the  improvement  of 
the  heaUng  art. 

When  the  records  of  ancient  know- 
ledge were  directed  to  be  deftroyed  in 
China,  thofe  relating  to  medicine  were 
excepted.  So  highly  has  medical  fkill 
been  approved  by  the  ancient  people 
of  Afia,  that  one  of  the  precious  things, 
which  their  gods  are  believed  to  have  pro- 
duced, was  a  learned  phyfician.  Their  no- 
tions of  philofophy  were  fuch,  as  were 
natural  in  a  rude  flate  of  fcience.  They 
believed  that  air,  water,  fire,  and  earth, 
were  elementary  principles  ;  that  life  or 
fpirit  was  a  fifth  principle,  and  an  emana- 
tion from_the  Divinity  ;  and  they  fuppofed, 
that  by  a  union  of  thefe  five  principles,  in 
diflferent  proportions,  all  living  bodies  were 

C 


(     «8     ) 

produced  ;  and  that  by  death  and  diflblu- 
tion,  all  thefe  principles  reverted  to  their 
original  fource :  errors,  which  the  im- 
provement, in  modern  chemiftry  have  ex- 
ploded. From  the  fertile  and  lively  imagi- 
nations of  the  people  of  Afia,  they  w^ere 
particularly  difpofed  to  allegory,  parable, 
and  fable.  Their  ancient  mythology  has 
been  confidered  as  nothing  more  than  his- 
torical truth  in  a  poetical  drefs,  or  moral 
or  metaphorical  allegories.  They  were  par- 
ticularly difpofed,  in  their  feminaries  of 
learning,  to  difcourfe  on  tjie  vanity  of  all 
human  enjoyments  ;  on  the  immortality  of 
the  foul ;  its  emanation  from  the  Eternal 
mind  ;  its  debafement  and  wanderings,  and 
final  union  with  its  original  fource. 

In  very  remote  ages,  particular  claffes  of 
men,  under  various  denominations,  in  dif- 
ferent countries  of  Afia,  were  fet  apart  as 
the  depofitaries  and  prefervers  of  learning. 
Their  duties  were  to  cultivate  their  under- 
ftandings  by  farther  obfervation  and  ftudy, 
and  to  tranfmit  their  knowledge,  without 


(     19     ) 

referve,  to  their  fucceflbrs.  Thefe  men, 
from  their  retired  lives,  reputed  fandlity, 
and  knowledge  of  bodies,  would  naturally 
be  confidered,  in  days  of  ignorance  and  fu- 
perflition,  as  a  fiiperior  order  of  beings  — 
as  holding  an  immediate  intercourfe  with 
Heaven.  Thefe  colleges  of  men  were 
known  in  the  eaftern  world,  by  the  names 
of  Chaldeans,  eMagi,  Brahmins,  and  by 
other  titles.  The  Chaldeans  and  Magi 
were  fuppofed  to  be  particularly  verfed  in 
judicial  aflrology.  The  Brahmins  were 
confidered  very  learned  in  morals,  and  all 
thofe  dodlrines  which  relate  to  the  mind. 
All  thefe  bodies  of  learned  men  were  dif- 
tinct  from  the  reft  of  the  people.  Thofe 
who  were  initiated  and  inftrudled  in  their 
myfteries,  were  bound  by  the  moft  facred 
obligations  to  fecrecy. 

Thefe  Afiatic  cuftoms  are  ftill  retain- 
ed in  fome  modern  inftitutions.  The 
genius  of  the  different  governments 
of  Afia,  and  the  particular  interefts 
and  confequence  of  the  learned  men 
of   thofe    countries,    were    combined    to 


(  2°  ) 

keep  the  great  body  of  the  people  in  the 
niofl  profound  ignorance.  They  were 
taught  to  believe,  that  it  would  be  ofFen- 
five  to  Heaven  for  them  to  enquire  into  the 
myfteries  of  nature  ;  and  that  they  could 
not  tafle  of  knowledge,  without  involving 
themfelves  in  mifery.  The  ignorant  mul- 
titude were  perfuaded,  and  did  believe,  that 
thefe  colleges  of  learned  men  held  an  im- 
mediate intercourfe  with  their  Deities,  and 
were  the  means  of  conveying  the  Divine 
will  and  pleafure  to  mortals  here  below. 
No  fchools  or  colleges  were  ever  eflablifhed 
in  Afia  by  the  native  inhabitants,  to  diffufe 
knowledge  among  the  people.  It  was  re- 
ferved  for  the  Britifli  nation  to  found  them 
at  Calcutta. 

Though  the  people  of  Afia  were  ear- 
ly inventors  of  the  arts  and  improv- 
ers of  knowledge,  they  have  no  claim 
to  mofl  of  the  great  difcoveries  and  im- 
proveinents  in  fcience.  Perhaps  there,  as  in 
Europe,  communities  of  men  have  totally 
difappeared,  who  once  were  ornaments  of 
the  human  character.     The  Sanfcrit  Ian- 


(      21       ) 

guage  and  records,  like  thofe  of  the  Ro- 
mans, bear  ftrong  teftimony  in  favour  of 
a  people  of  fuperior  worth,  who  once  re- 
fided  in  India,  but  who  now  no  longer 
exifl. 

The  negro  people  are  the  original  inha- 
bitants of  Africa.  Their  defcendants  oc- 
cupy, at  the  prefent  day,  almoft  the  whole 
of  that  quarter  of  the  world.  They  are 
charadlerifed  by  black  complexions,  phleg- 
matic temperaments,  black  and  frizly  hair, 
foft  and  filky  ikins,  flat  nofes,  thick  lips  ; 
they  are  crafty,  indolent,  carelefs,  and  in 
their  actions  governed  by  caprice. 

Many  of  thefe  people  have  been  in  flave- 
ry  for  nearly  two  centuries  in  mofl  of 
thefe  ftates ;  and  where  the  race  has  been 
continued  pure,  they  have  undergone  no 
change  in  their  complexions  or  hair. 

Though  Africa  is  not  fubjedl  to  the  pierc- 
ing  colds,  which  are   experienced  in  the 
,  northern  parts  of   Afia   and  America,    it 
has  regions  of  deferts  and  burning  fands, 
equally  inhofpitable  to  the  comfort  of  man, 


(  "  ) 

and  unfriendly  to  thofe  genial  caufes,  which 
lead  to  the  evolution  of  the  powers  of  the 
mind,  the  invention  of  arts,  and  the  im- 
provement of  knowledge. 

The  people  of  Africa  who,  in  remote 
ages,  were  ellablifhed  on  the  rich  and  fer- 
tile banks  of  the  Nile,  foon  became  lover« 
of  knowledge  and  improvers  of  the  arts. 
Egypt  has  been  emphatically  called  the 
Mother  of  the  arts.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  but  that  country  has  fair  and  ho- 
nourable pretenlions  to  be  confidered  among 
the  mofl  early  feats  of  fcience. 

The  monuments  of  antiquity  and  fpeci- 
mens  of  the  arts,  which  are  ftill  found  in 
India,  prove  the  early  connexion  between 
that  country  and  Egypt.  Apulius  ftates, 
that  according  to  tlie  opinion  of  the  an- 
cients, the  Ethiopians  received  the  firft 
light  of  the  fun.  Budah,  one  of  the 
Indian  divinities,  is  reprefented  as  black, 
with  frizly  hair.  He,  perhaps,  was  a 
learned  Ethiopian,  who  in  early  ages  tra- 
velled into  India.     We  have  the  evidence 


{     23     ) 

of  ancient  hiftorians,  efpecially  of  Herod- 
otus, to  ftate,  that  the  ancient  Egyptians 
were  of  the  negro  race.  The  negro  fea- 
tures are  evidently  marked  in  all  the  cafes,  ■. 
tvhich  are  found  to  contain  ancient  Egyp- 
tian mummies.  The  word  Egypt  implies, 
in  the  original  Greek,  the  country  of  black 
men,  who,  we  know  from  the  facred  writ- 
ings, were  not,  in  former  times,  held  in 
degradation.  It  was  among  thefe  people, 
that  the  great  Jewifh  lawgiver  received  that 
extraordinary  fund  of  knowledge  which 
he  manifeftly  pofTeiled.  Many  of  the  learn- 
ed of  our  own  times  have  cheriihed  a  be- 
lief, that  there  may  be  fome  curious  re- 
mains of  the  arts  and  fciences  in  Abyffinia, 
Ethiopia,  and  the  interior  parts  of  Africa, 
which  they  have  anxioully  wifhcd  to  af- 
certain. 

Though  the  coloured  people  of  Alia  and 
of  Africa,  are  undoubtedly  races  of  men 
with  powers  of  mind  in  many  refpecfls 
inferior  to  our  Indians  and  our  own  varie- 
ty of  the  human  fpecies,  they  were  certain- 


(       24      ) 

ly  the  fathers  of  fcience,  and  to  us  the  firft 
inftrudlors  in  knowledge. 

The  moft  extraordinary  and  wonderful 
variety  of  man  is  our  own  or  the  white 
race.  "What  was  our  origin,  whence  we 
came,  or  where  the  original  country  of  our 
anceflors,  are  hid  in  obfcurity.  We  are 
known  in  Natural  Hiftory  as  the  European 
man^  diftinguifhed  by  fair  complexions, 
fanguine  temperaments,  hair  of  various 
fhades  of  brown,  eyes  moflly  blue,  acute 
in  judgment,  of  quick  invention,  and  go- 
verned by  laws ;  a6live,  enterprifing,  in- 
genious, and  at  this  period  of  time,  with- 
out prefumption,  the  moft  intelligent  of 
human  kind.* 

That  our  race  was  not  of  remote 
antiquity,  may  be  probable.  The  ac- 
count in  the  facred   writings  of  the  cre- 


*  Variations  of  colour  are  not  the  only  anatomical  differences  obferva- 
ble  between  the  feveral  people  who  inhabit  this  globe.  To  ftate  them  all, 
would  fwell  this  note  into  a  differtation.  The  facial  angle  is  more  acute 
in  the  African  than  in  the  European  by  ten  or  fifteen  degrees.  The  chin 
of  the  African  is  not  fo  prominent  as  that  of  the  European ;  but  the  teeth 
of  the  former  projeft  more  than  thofe  of  the  latter.  There  is  a  remarka- 
ble difference  too  in  the  bones  of  the  leg. 


/ 


ation  of  Adam  is  fuppofed,  by  mofl  of  the 
learned,  to  refer  to  the  Indian  race  of  men. 
Homer   defcribes    the    ancient   heroes    of 
Greece,  as  an  order  of  men,  not  very  diffe- 
rent in  their  manners  and  habits  from  the 
warriors  and  head  men  of  our  five  nations 
of  Indians.     The  defcription  of  the  anci- 
ent Germans  by  Tacitus,  in  his  time,  alfo 
correlponds    with  that  of  the   Indians   of 
thefe  ftates  ;  but  different  from  them,  our 
German  anceflors  paid  adoration  to  the  fun 
and  moon,  and  to  Tuifco,  Woden,  Thor, 
Friga,  ^nd  Saturn  or  Seater,  who  having 
been  great  flatefmen  and  warriors,  gained 
the  veneration  of  their  countrymen.     We 
retain  the  names    of  thefe  deities  in  the 
days  of  the  week.    In  the  weflern  parts  of 
Europe,  according  to  the  conqueror,  JuHus 
Cxfar,    and   other  hiftorians,    there  were 
colleges  of  men  among  the  ancient  Gauls, 
and  Britons  by  the  name  of  Druids,  who 
were  famed  for  their  fuppofed  learning  and 
knowledge,  who  ofiered  up  human  facri- 
fices  to  their  gods,  and  who  for  thefe  adts 

D 


(     ^-6     ) 

of  barbarifm,  were  ordered  to  be  deftroyed 
by  the  Roman  emperors. 

The  hiflory  of  our  variety  of  the  human 
race  is  interefting  and  extraordinary.  In 
ancient  times  they  poflefled  almofl  all  Eu- 
rope, and  from  what  we  know,  fome  of 
them  wandered  into  Afia,  making  part  of 
thofe  hordes  known  by  the  name  of  Huns 
and  Tartars.  They  inhabited,  at  times, 
parts  of  Alia  Minor,  Perfia  and  Arabia. 
In  this  wandering  flate  communities  may 
have  been  formed  by  a  mixture  of  the  dif- 
ferent races  of  men,  but  who  are  not  fiif- 
ficiently  important  to  merit  much  notice. 

The  Greeks,  under  Alexander  the  Great, 
invaded  and  conquered  parts  of  Africa  and 
Afia  ;  at  an  after-period  the  Romans  did 
the  fame.  In  the  middle  ages,  hordes  of 
white  barbarians  from  the  north  of  Eu- 
rope and  Afia,  overturned  the  Roman 
power,  enervated  by  the  lofs  of  the  re- 
publican form  of  government.  In  mo- 
dern times,  people  from  the  wefl  of  Europe 


(     ^7    ) 

conquered  parts  of  Alia  Minor.  Our  white 
race  have  in  America  overturned  the  em- 
pires of  Mexico  and  Peru,  pofTefTed  them- 
felves  of  the  territories  of  thefe  United 
States,  and  the  northern  parts  of  this  con- 
tinent. In  India  we  have  alfo  appeared  as 
the  lords  of  this  world,  and  fubjecSled  to 
the  dominion  of  our  race  millions  of  the 
the  ancient  inhabitants  of  that  country. 
As  tribes,  or  diflindl  nations,  wc  have  been 
long  contending  in  fanguinary  wars  with 
each  other,  and  have  been  led,  by  various 
caufes,to  be  the  mofl  exalted  of  human  kind. 
In  the  genial  climates  of  Greece  and 
of  Italy,  the  arts  and  fciences  were  firfl 
cherifhed  among  the  people  of  our  race. 
If  words  and  founds,  in  the  conftru6lion  of 
language,  maybe  allowed  to  correfpond with 
dignity  and  elevation  of  mind,  then  we 
muft  conclude  that  the  Greeks  and  the  Ro- 
mans were,  from  their  origin,  a  great  and 
majeftic  people.  The  admirable  ftrudlure 
of  their  languages,  the  exquifite  refinement 
and  perfedion  of  each,  is  fufficiently  known 


(       28       ) 

to  all  who  have  paid  any  attention  to  phi- 
lology. Thefe  people  were  great  in  all  that 
relates  to  man,  and  wonderfully  excelled  in 
the  elegant  and  liberal  arts.  The  exquifite 
remains  of  Grecian  fculpture,  both  in  gems 
and  marble,  no  modern  tool  equals.  The 
Grecian  architecture  we  imitate  only  at  a 
fervile  diftance.  In  painting,  and  in  mufic, 
and  in  all  the  productions  of  human  genius, 
the  Greeks  excelled.  Greece  was  the  coun- 
try of  Homer,  of  Hippocrates,  of  Plato, 
Socrates  and  Ariftotle,  and  of  other  great 
charadlers,  who  have  contributed  to  enlight- 
en the  world,  and  difRife  a  defire  of  im- 
provement among  men. 

The  Romans  excelled  moft  in  what  relat- 
ed to  the  art  of  war,  and  the  government 
of  man ;  like  the  Greeks,  they  were  lovers 
of  knowledge,  and  the  ufeful  arts.  Their 
claflical  productions  in{lru6t  and  delight  us 
in  our  youth,  and  gain  our  refpedt  in  ma- 
turer  age.  Our  alphabet  and  letters  point 
out  our  obligations  to  Roman  genius.  In 
our   fchools,    academies,    and  colleges  are 


(    ^9    ) 

retained,  as  models  for  inflrucflion,  their 
produ(5lions  of  genius  and  tafte.  While 
the  race  of  Roman  men  have  departed 
this  world,  refufing  to  exifl  when  it  was 
denied  them  to  live  in  glory  ;  they  Hill  re- 
tain their  empire  over  tis  by  the  monu- 
ments of  their  greatnefs.  We  dare  not  de- 
part from  their  chafte  examples  of  compo- 
fition,  without  running  into  exuberance  or 
wild  bombaft.  Our  fages  of  the  law  muft 
ftill  refort  to  Roman  jurifprudence,  as  the 
fountain  of  reafon  and  jufl  decilion.  Cel- 
fus  inflrucfls  us  in  the  healing  art,  and  to 
the  honour  of  the  medical  profeffion,  his 
book  is  the  moft  elegant  example  of  la- 
tinity,  which  has  efcaped  the  deftroying 
hand  of  inconfiderate  man. 

If  we  contemplate  the  age  in  which  the 
human  character  appeared  moll;  exalted,  we 
muft  fix  on  the  flourifliing  periods  of  the 
republics  of  Greece  and  of  Rome ;  nor  can 
we  pay  a  higher  compliment  to  their  great- 
nefs, than  by  refledling  that,  when  their 
genius  and  learning  were  fupprefled,  the 


{     3°     ) 

world  was  overwhelmed  by  ignorance  and 
luperftition,  and  mankind  reverted  to  their 
ancient  barbarifm,  from  which  they  were 
withdrawn  only  by  the  refloration  of  know- 
ledge. 

During  the  middle  ages  however,  it  was 
the  will  of  Providence,  that  the  monu- 
ments of  human  greatnefs,  produced  by  the 
genius  of  Greece  and  Rome,  fliould  not  be 
totally  deflroyed.  The  fuccefTors  of  Ma- 
homet eflablilhed  colleges  in  Afia,  Africa, 
and  the  fouth  of  Europe. 

In  the  13th  and  14th  centuries  the  re- 
publics of  Italy  were  engaged  in  lucrative 
commerce  with  Africa  and  Alia,  and  the 
north  of  Europe.  The  citizens  foon  were 
placed  in  fituations  which  led  to  the  reftora- 
tion  of  learning  :  this  was  powerfully  effect- 
ed by  the  family  of  the  Medici,  who  were 
originally  pradlitioners  of  the  healing  art, 
and  from  contemplating  man  and  nature, 
were  poffelled  of  fuperior  underftandings, 
and  more  enlightened  minds.  They  gene- 
roully  employed  their  wealth  and  power  to 


(     31     ) 

exalt  the  human  c}iarad:er,  and  reftore  a 
love  of  knowledge  and  the  ufeful  arts.  The 
clouds  of  ignorance  and  fuperftition  began 
to  be  dispelled,  and  men  arofe  in  the  Italian 
republics,  who  may  truly  be  faid  to  be  or- 
naments to  our  fpecies. 

Copernicus  came  from  the  north  of  Ger- 
many, but  fludied  in  the  fchools  of  Italy. 
With  that  independence  of  fpirit,  and 
ftrength  of  mind,  which  have  fo  often  cha- 
raclerifed  his  countrymen,  he  made  thofb 
fublime  difcoveries  in  aflronomy,  which 
perpetuated  his  name,  and  which  were  af- 
terwards fo  fully  eftablifhed  by  the  learn- 
ed Galileo, 

Genoa  produced  the  mod  extraordinary 
and  exalted  man  who  perhaps  ever  appeared 
in  any  age.  In  the  humble  occupation  of  a 
failor,  he  contemplated  the  ftarry  heavens, 
the  revolution  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  the 
form  and  flrudure  of  this  earth,  and  pof- 
fefTmg  fuperior  knowledge  on  all  thefe  fiib- 
jecfls,  by  the  power  of  reafon  he  entertained 
the  fublime  idea  of  the  exiflence  of  a  new 


(     32     ) 

world,  and  had  fortitude  and  talents  to  et- 
fe(5l  its  difcovery.     This  was  Chriftopher 
Columbus,  the  firfl  man  of  our  race,  who 
landed  on  the  weftern  part  of  this  earth. 
The  wonderful  effeds  which  this  fubUme 
difcovery  has  produced  on  fociety,  on  the 
arts  and  fciences,  are  too  exteniive  for  me 
to  dwell  on  ;  but  we  cannot  refied  on  the 
character  of  Columbus,   his  fublime  and 
comprehenfive  mind,  without  being  led  to 
believe  him  a  perfon  infpired  with  fagacity 
and  fortitude,  more  than  human,  in  order 
to  accomplifli  a  deiign  far  beyond  the  ideas 
and  conceptions  of  men. 

The  eftablifliment  of  the  univerfity  of 
Paris  had  important  effecfls  in  difJufing 
knowledge  in  France  and  the  weflern  parts 
of  Europe.  The  people  of  France,  from  the 
exteniive  opportunities  of  inflrudion  afford- 
ed them,  rofe  to  be  the  moil  intelligent  and 
polifhed  portion  of  the  human  race,  and 
have,  among  the  mofl  dreadful  of  human 
convulfions,  retained  a  love  of  knowledge 
and  the  arts. 


(     33    ) 

The  Batavian  people  were  the  friends, 
and  from  their  bravery  and  virtue,  the 
allies  of  the  ancient  Romans.  On  the  res- 
toration of  learning,  they  adopted  and  in- 
troduced the  Latin  as  a  living  language  in 
their  fchools,  and  cherifhed  a  fpirit  of  en- 
quiry among  the  people.  Cofter  of  Haerlem 
difeovered  the  art  of  printing  with  wood ; 
this  art  was  afterwards  farther  improved  in 
Germany,  by  the  fubftitution  of  metal, 
and  the  invention  of  types.  The  repub- 
lican form  of  government,  which  became 
eflabliflied  in  Holland,  gave  ample  pro- 
te(ftion  to  the  art  of  printing,  and  con- 
tributed very  much  to  diiFufe  a  fpirit  of 
enquiry,  and  a  love  of  knowledge  among 
the  nations  of  Europe. 

The  infular  fituation  of  Great  Britain, 
has  enabled  her  to  retain  more  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  rational  and  legal  liberty,  than  is 
enjoyed  by  any  other  nation  in  Europe. 
The  richnefs  of  the  country  placed  many  of 
the  inhabitants  in  opulence.  Both  thefe 
caufes  have  combined  to  encourage  the  pro- 

E 


(     34     ) 

motion  of  ufeful  knowledge,  and   of  the 
elegant   and   ingenious  arts.     It  was  here 
that  lord   Bacon   firfl   inftrudted  men   in 
the    true     method    of    obtaining    know- 
ledge,   by  collecfting  general  fa(5ls  which 
occur    in    the    various   arts    of   common 
life,  and  deducing  from  them  certain  fix- 
ed laws  and  principles,   thus  giving   them 
the    character    of    fcience.       It   was    here 
that  Dr.  Harvey,  by  the  force  of  reafon, 
firfl  demonflrated   the    circulation  of  the 
blood.     His  proofs  and  arguments  are  fo 
fully  ftated  in  his  elegant  Latin  treatiie  on 
this  fubjecl,  as  to  require  no  farther  illus- 
tration   fince   his  time.     Mr.  Locke  here 
firfl  analyfed  the  powers  of  the  underfland- 
ing,  and  Newton  explained  the  mofl  fub- 
lime  fecrets  of  nature.     The  univerfities  of 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  the  imiverfities  of 
Edinburgh  and   other  cities    in  Scotland, 
the  colleges  of  phyficians  of  London  and 
Edinburgh,    and   the   public  and   private 
fchools  fupported  by  that  enlightened  peo- 
ple, have  contributed  largely  to  the  pro- 


(    35    ) 

motion  of  knowledge,  and  to  elevate  the 
chara(5ler  and  dignity  of  man. 

The  white  people  of  thefe  United  States 
have  always  manifefted  a  love  for  learning, 
equal  to  their  brethren  in  other  parts  of  the 
world.  Some  European  writers  have  fup- 
pofed  that  we  have  degenerated  from  the 
vigour  of  mind  poflefFed  by  our  forefa- 
thers. But  the  Chief  who  prefides  over 
thefe  flates  with  fo  much  wifdom,  modera- 
tion and  juftice,  has,  in  his  philofophical 
tradls,  vindicated  the  characfler  of  his  coun- 
trymen with  all  that  zeal,  with  which  he  is 
accuftomed  to  fupport  their  rights  and  in- 
terefts.  The  inventive  and  adlive  genius  of 
our  people  has  appeared  in  navigation,  and 
many  of  the  mechanic  arts.  In  that 
kind  of  philofophy  which  applies  immedi- 
ately to  the  convenience  and  comfort  of 
man,  fome  of  our  citizens  have  rifen  to  the 
highefl  rank.  In  painting,  which  of  all  arts 
requires  the  greateft  power  of  genius,  they 
have  acquired  coniiderable  celebrity.  In 
the  fcience  of  politics  they  ftand  unrivalled. 


(    36    ) 

exhibiting  to  the  world  an  illuftrious  in- 
flance  of  a  numerous  and  widely  fcattered 
people,  f elf-governed^  and  advancing  with 
unexampled  rapidity  in  national  wealth  and 
national  happinefs. 

We  thus  fee,  that  in  all  the  varieties  of 
man  there  is  implanted,  by  the  hands  of 
the  Creator,  a  capacity  for  inflru(5lion. 
This  capacity,  ufually  termed  genius,  varies 
materially,  not  only  in  the  fame  race,  but 
in  the  different  races  themfelves  ;  in  alf,  it 
admits  of  infinite  improvement  by  cultiva- 
tion. Afliduity  will,  to  a  certain  extent, 
fupply  the  want  of  genius,  but  genius  un- 
conne<5led  with  induftry  is  of  little  value  ; 
both  muft  be  combined  to  form  the  man  of 
fcience. 

To  facilitate  the  acquifition  of  know- 
ledge, men,  illuftrious  for  their  learning, 
are  in  all  countries  colle6led  into  colleges, 
for  communicating  inftru(5l:ion  ;  and  when 
the  facred  duties  of  thefe  inflitutions  have 
been  duly  attended  to,  great  advantages 
have  been  derived  from  them  to  the  com- 


(    37    ) 

munity ;  and  honour  and  renown  at  the 
fame  time  conferred  on  fuch  benefadlors  of 
mankind  as  have  been  faithfully  and  induf- 
trioufly  employed  in  difFufing  knowledge. 

After  the  conclufion  of  the  war,  which 
eflablifhed  the  independence  of  thefe  States, 
the  Legiflature  of  this  ftate  manifefted  great 
zeal  for  the  promotion  of  learning;  fatisfied 
that  without  knowledge  the  civil  and  poli- 
tical inflitution,  eflablijDhed  by  the  blood 
of  the  country,  would  not  long  remain ; 
and  that  rational  and  legal  liberty  can  be 
iiipported  in  that  country  only,  where  the 
people  are  far  advanced  in  the  principles 
of  morals  and  of  fcience. 

For  thefe  purpofes  the  Legiflature  eflab- 
lifhed a  univerfity  in  this  ftate,  and  has 
endowed  with  great  liberality  the  fchools, 
academies,  and  colleges,  under  the  infpection 
and  fuperintendence  of  the  Regents.  Thefe 
fchools  and  colleges  have  been  more  efpeci- 
ally  devoted,  hitherto,  to  ordinary  inftruc- 
tion,  and  that  clafTical  information  which 
is  obtained  by  a  knowledge  of  the  Greek 


(     38     ) 

and  Roman  writers.  This  inflitution, 
which  is  the  third  college  belonging  to  the 
viniverfity,  is  eftabliflied  for  the  fublime 
and  more  exalted  branches  of  knowledge. 

o 

The  rudiments  of  education  and  claffical 
learning  will  not  be  taught  here.  The  ob- 
jedls  of  fludy  will  be  nature,  and  whatever 
relates  to  man. 

The  objedls  of  inflrudlion  in  this  Col- 
lege will,  therefore,  be  extenfive,  and  the 
patrons  of  this  inflitution  will  be  unremit- 
ting in  their  endeavours  to  make  it  equal, 
in  ufefulnefs,  to  the  moft  diftinguifhed 
univerfities  of  Europe.  The  profelTors  and 
lecturers  will  flate  to  you  in  their  lectures, 
the  different  objecfls  of  fludy  connedled 
with  their  courfes  of  inflru(5lion,  and  give 
fuch  directions  as  may  be  moft  interefling 
'to  fludents  to  aid  them  in  the  profecution 
of  their  various  fludies. 

In  this  inflitution,  the  truflees  have  not 
thought  proper  to  make  any  laws  for  the 
government  of  its  fludents  :  they  hope  none 
will  ever  be  neceffary ;  but  that  every  gen- 


(    39    ) 

tleman  attached  to  the  College,  will  always 
be  dire(5led  in  his  conducfl  and  behaviour 
by  the  principles  of  honour  and  good  man- 
ners. On  their  part,  the  truflees  cherifh 
fanguine  expecflations,  that  the  labours  of 
the  profefTors  and  teachers  will  obtain  the 
afFedion  of  the  Undents,  of  their  patrons 
and  friends. 

Confiding  in  the  conftituted  authorities 
of  the  ftate,  and  in  their  fellow-citizens 
for  protedlion  and  fupport,  the  truflees, 
profefTors,  and  teachers  of  this  College, 
will  exert  their  humble  efforts  to  fulfil  their 
refpedlive  duties  to  the  public  with  aflidui- 
ty,  zeal,  and  attention. 


BYE-LAWS 


OF    THE 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS 


IN    THE 


CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 


»^.*< 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 


BYE-LAWS 


OF   THE 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS 


IN    THE 


CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 


W  HERE  AS  it  is  granted  and  declared  in 
and  by  the  charter  for  eftablifhing  a  Col- 
lege of  Phyficians  and  Surgeons  in  the 
city  of  New- York,  that  the  truflees  or 
members  may  enadl  fuch  bye-laws,  rules, 
and  regulations,  relative  to  the  affairs, 
concerns,  and  property  of  the  faid  college, 
and  relative  to  the  duties  of  their  prefi- 
dent,  vice-prefident,  regifter,  treafurer, 
cenfors,  and  other  members,  as  they  may 

'  think  fit  and  proper ;  and  whereas  it  is 
expedient  that  fuch  bye-laws,  rules,  and 
regulations  be  enacted : 


{     44     ) 

Therefore^  he  it  ordained  by  the  College  of 
Phyjicians  and  Surgeons,  ejiablijhed  in  the  city 
of  New-Tor k.  And  it  is  ordained  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  fame,  That  the  charter  and 
bye-laws  of  the  faid  College  of  Phylicians 
and  Surgeons  fliall  be  engroiTed  in  a  book, 
proper  for  the  purpofe,  together  with  the 
following  declaration,  which  fhall  be  fub- 
fcribed  by  the  prelident,  vice-prefident, 
regifter,  treafurer,  cenfors,  and  all  other 
truflees  of  the  faid  college,  who  ihall  or 
may  be  reiident  in  the  city  of  New- York. 

DECLARATION. 

We,  the  members  and  truflees  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Phyficians  and  Surgeons,  in  the 
city  of  New-York,  do,  each  of  us,  folemnly 
declare,  that  according  to  the  beft  of  our 
fkill  and  knowledge,  we  will,  feverally, 
difcharge  the  feveral  trufts  and  powers  veft- 
ed  in  us  refpedVively ;  that  we  will  diligently 
maintain  the  honour  and  welfare  of  the  faid 
College ;  and  in  all  things  which  fhall  in 
any  fort  concern  our  refpedlive  duties,  we 


{     45     ) 

will  a(5l  faithfully  and  honeflly ;  that  we 
will  obferve  and  be  obedient  to  the  flatutes, 
bye-laws,  and  ordinances,  ena(5led  for  the 
faid  College  ;  and  will,  to  the  utmoft  of  our 
power,  endeavour  to  promote  the  reputa- 
tion,  honour,  and  dignity  thereof. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
afore/aid^  That  every  member  of  this  col- 
lege fhall  obferve  order  and  decorum  at  all 
the  meetings  of  the  faid  College,  and  pay 
proper  refpedl  to  the  prefident  and  other  offi- 
cers of  the  faid  College,  and  to  their  fellow 
members  ;  and  every  member  who  fhall  be 
guilty  of  breach  of  order  or  decorum  in  the 
faid  college,  ihall  be  fubjedl  to  a  fine  not  ex- 
ceeding fifty  dollars  for  every  offence,  ac- 
cording as  a  majority  of  members  prefent 
at  fuch  meeting  fliall  direcl. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
aforefaid^  That  every  member  nominated 
and  appointed  a  member  of  this  College, 
and  having  accepted  fuch  truft,  who  fhall 
at  any  time  ufe  expreffions  of  difrefpecft 
concerning   the    faid  inftitution,    or  fhall 


(    46    ) 

endeavour  to  injure  the  honour,  reputation, 
or  ufefulnefs  thereof,  fhall,  upon  convic- 
tion before  the  College,  at  any  of  their  an- 
niverfary  or  quarterly  meetings,  be  fubjedl 
to  a  fine  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dol- 
lars. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
aforefaid^  That  it  fhall  be  the  duty  of  eve- 
ry member  of  the  faid  College  to  fupport 
the  honour  and  dignity  of  the  medical  pro- 
feflion,  and  to  execute  the  duties  thereof 
to  the  befl  of  his  Ikill  and  knov^ledge,  with 
juftice  and  propriety  ;  and  every  fuch  mem- 
ber and  truftee,  who  fhall  be  convi(5led  of 
impoling  on  the  public  by  improper  medi- 
cal advertifements,  fhall  be  fubjedl  to  a  fine 
not  exceeding  fifty  dollars  for  every  offence, 
and  may  be  reprefented  to  the  Regents  as 
unworthy  of  holding  a  place  in  the  faid 
College. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
aforefaid^  That  it  fhall  be  lawful  for  this 
College,  at  any  time,  to  reprefent  to  the 
Regents    of   the   univerfity,  the  improper 


(    47    ) 

condu(5l  of  any  member  or  truftee  of  the  faid 
College,  to  the  end  that  the  Regents  be  en- 
abled to  judge  of  the  expediency  of  dif^ 
placing  any  fiich  member  fo  reprefented. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
afore/aid^  That  every  member  of  the  faid 
College,  refident  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
fhall  pay  to  the  treafurer  of  the  faid  College, 
yearly,  ten  dollars,  towards  defraying  the 
expenfes  of  the  faid  College,  until  a  fuiH* 
cient  fund  fhall  be  otherwife  provided  for 
that  purpofe. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
aforefaid.  That  the  order  of  tranfadting  bu- 
finefs  at  the  meetings  of  the  faid  College^ 
fliall  be  in  manner  and  form  as  follows,  viz. 

I*  The  prefident  or  prefiding  oiEcer  of  the 
faid  College,  may  declare  the  fame  confli- 
tuted,  whenever  a  quorum  is  formed  ac- 
cording to  charter. 

2.  The  minutes  of  the  laft  meeting  fhall 
be  read  by  the  regifter,  and  if  no  member 
prefent  objedl  to  the  fame,  the  minutes  fhall 
be  conlidered  as  approved. 


{     48     ) 

3-  The  prefident  or  prefiding  officer,  or 
any  truftee  of  the  faid  College,  may  introduce 
any  propofition  relative  to  the  concerns  of 
the  faid  College,  and  have  the  fame  difpofed 
of  according  to  the  pleafure  of  a  majority  of 
the  members  prefent  at  any  fuch  meeting. 

4.  Every  motion  made  or  refolution  of- 
fered by  any  member  and  truftee  of  this  Col- 
lege, fhall  be  committed  to  writing  by  fuch 
memiber,  and  prefented  to  the  prefident  or 
prefiding  officer,  previous  to  its  being  laid 
before  the  College. 

5.  A  majority  of  the  members  and  truf^ 
tees  of  the  College  prefent  at  any  meeting, 
may  diretl  an  adjournment  whenever  it 
Ihall  be  deemed  proper. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority  a- 
f ore/aid^  That  all  the  members  and  truflees  of 
the  faid  College,  ihall  take  their  places  when- 
ever the  prefident  or  prefiding  officer  fhalt 
declare  the  College  conftituted;  and  when- 
ever a  member  fliall  fpeak,  he  fliall  (land 
up  and  addrefs  himfelf  to  the  chair  ;  and 
whenever  any  two  or  more  members  offer 


(    49    ) 

to  fpeak  at  the  fame  time,  the  prefident  or 
prefiding  officer  fhall  determine  the  priority 
in  ipeaking. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
afore/aid^  That  the  prefident  of  the  faid  Col- 
lege fhall  prefide  at  the  meetings,  and  Ihall 
preferve  order  and  decorum  in  the  fame ; 
he  fhall  perform  the  duties  of  his  office  as 
may  be  directed  by  charter,  and  the  ordi- 
nances and  bye-laws  enacted  for  the  faid 
College  ;  he  fhall  nominate  and  appoint  all 
committees  for  tranfacling  the  bufinefs  of 
faid  College,  unlefs  otherwife  diredled  by  a 
fpecial  refolution  of  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers prefent ;  he  fhall  take  the  fenfe  of  the 
College  on  any  motion  made  and  feconded ; 
he  fhall  have  a  calling  vote  in  all  tranfac- 
tions  where  the  votes  of  the  members  are 
equally  divided,  and  fhall  deliver  the  deci- 
fions  of  the  College. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
aforefaid^  That  the  prefident,  vice-prefident, 
regifter,  and  treafurer  of  the  faid  College, 
fhall  each  of  them  have  all  the  rights  of  a 

G 


(     so    ) 

cenlbr  of  the  faid  College,  and  fhall  attend 
the  meetings  of  faid  cenfors ;  that  at  the 
meeting  of  the  cenfors,  the  fenior  cenfor  on 
the.  liil:  prefent  Ihall  prefide ;  and  the  faid 
cenfors  are  authorifed  to  appoint  one  of 
their  members  their  fecretary,  whofe  duty  it 
lliail  be  to  keep  a  faithful  record  of  all  the 
proceedings  of  faid  cenfors,  and  fliall,  from 
time  to  time,  lay  the  fame  before  the  mem- 
bers of  the  faid  College  at  their  refpecflive 
meetings. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
afore/aid^  That  it  fhall  be  the  duty  of  the 
faid  cenfors  to  carry  into  full  effedl  all  the 
ordinances,  bye-laws,  and  refolutions  of  the 
faid  College  ;  that  they  ihall  pay  due  atten- 
tion towards  eftabliiLing  and  preferving 
for  the  faid  College,  an  anatomical  mufeum, 
chemical  elaboratory,  and  botanic  garden  ; 
they  fhall  alfo  provide  convenient  ledture- 
rooms  for  the  profeffors  and  ledlurers  of  the 
faid  College  ;  and  that  they  fhall  form  and 
preferve  a  library  for  the  ufe  of  faid  Col- 
lege ;  they  llaall  prepare  a  report  in  writing, 


(     51     ) 

refpedling  all  matters  and  things  relating 
to  the  faid  College,  to  be  fubmitted  to  the 
members  and  truflees,  at  the  firfl  meeting 
in  January  in  every  year ;  and  that  five 
cenfors  Ihall  form  a  quorum  to  tranfad  bu- 
finefs. 

And  be  it  further  ordained  by  the  authority 
afore/aid^  That  until  the  Regents  of  the  U- 
niverfity  fhall  have  palTed  ordinances  for  re« 
gulating  the  condud  of  the  profeffors  and 
Undents  of  the  faid  College,  the  prefident  of 
faid  College,  together  with  the  profefTors 
appointed  for  the  faid  College,  and  lecturers 
chofen  by  faid  College,  fhall  conftitute  and 
form  a  Senatus  Academicus  ;  and  the 
faid  Senatus  Academicus  is  hereby  autho- 
rifed  to  make  fuch  rules  and  regulations,  as 
may  be  fit  and  proper,  as  well  for  them- 
felves  as  the  profeffors,  lecturers,  and  flu- 
dents  of  the  faid  College  ;  and  three  mem- 
bers of  the  faid  Senatus  Academicus  fhall 
form  a  board  to  tranfadl  bufinefs. 


REPORT 


OF    THE 


COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  AND  SURGEONS 


IN    THE 


CITY  OF  NEW-YORK, 


TO    THE 


REGENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY, 


1808. 


TO  THE  REGENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 
THE  STATE  OF  NEW-YORK. 

The  College  of  Phyficians  and  Surgeons, 
in  the  city  of  New- York,  in  obedience  to 
the  injunction  of  the  Charter  by  which 
they  are  conftituted,  beg  leave  refpedtftil- 
ly  to  prefent  the  following  Report. 

Agreeably  to  the  powers  vefted  in  the 
truftees  and  members  of  the  College  of 
Phyficians  and  Surgeons,  named  and  com- 
prehended in  the  charter  of  incorporation, 
they  convened  at  the  time  and  place  ap- 
pointed, and  eleded,  by  a  majority  of 
votes,  Nicholas  Romayne  Prefident, 
Samuel  L.  Mitchill  Vice-Prefident, 
Archibald  Bruce  Regifter,  Abraham 
Brower  Treafurer,  and  Edward  Mil- 
ler, David  Hosack,  Alexander  Shel- 
DEN,  William  Livingston,  Felix  Pas- 
CALis,  Joshua  E.  R.  Birch,  William 
Wheeler,  John  D.  Gillespie,  Henry 


(     56     ) 

Van  Solingen,  William  J.  M*NfevEN, 
James  G.  Graham,  Benjamin  De  Witt, 
Cenfors  of  the  faid  College.  Thefe  gen- 
tlemen fevera!Iy  accepted  their  refpe(5live 
offices,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  them 
with  zeal  and  acflivity. 

The  College  of  Phyficians  and  Surgeons 
being  thus  legally  organized,  proceeded, 
after  due  deliberation,  to  ena(5l  fuch  bye- 
laws  as  were  confidered  neceiTary  for  the 
government  of  the  inftitution,  and  fuch 
as  in  their  opinion  wovild  contribute  to  its 
ufefulnefs  and  refpecflability.  Copies  of 
them  are  herewith  prefented,  and  refjpeifl- 
fully  fubmitted  to  the  Regents. 

For  the  purpofe  of  conducting  with 
promptnefs  and  facility  the  various  minute 
details  of  the  College,  which  could  not  con- 
veniently be  attended  to  by  a  large  public 
body,  they  have  deemed  it  expedient,  aic- 
cording  to  the  ufage  of  fimilar  inftitutions 
in  Europe,  to  organize  a  Senatus  Aca- 
demic us,  Gonfifting  of  the  profeffors  of 
the  Univerfity,  the  prelident,  vice-prelident, 


(    57    ) 

regifler,  treafurer,  and  ledlurers  of  the  Col- 
lege, who  are  authorifed  to  make  fuch  ar- 
rangements as  may  be  found  neceffary  to 
execute  the  fyftem  of  education  eftab- 
liflied  in  the  College,  as  well  as  for  the 
regulation  and  government  of  the  profef^ 
fors,  lecturers,  and  lludents.  From  the 
affiduity  and  attention  of  this  body  to  the 
interefts  of  the  infhitution,  the  College  an- 
ticipate much  advantage ;  and  flatter  them- 
felves  the  eflablilhment  will  meet  with  the 
approbation  of  the  Regents. 

To  provide  as  early  as  poffible  for  the 
necelTary  inflruclion  intended  to  be  given 
in  all  the  mofl  effential  branches  of  medi- 
cal fcience,  the  College  found  it  indifpen- 
fable  to  exercife  the  power  delegated  to 
them  by  the  Regents,  of  appointing  lectur- 
ers in  the  departments  which  were  unpro- 
vided with  profefFors.  They  accordingly 
appointed  Dr.  Nicholas  Romayiie  and  Dr. 
John  Aujiin  Smith,  Lecturers  on  Anatomy  ; 
Dr.  Benjamin  De  Witt,  Lecturer  on  Chemif- 
try ;  Dr.  David  Hofack,  Lecturer  on  Mid- 

H 


(     58     ) 

wifery  and  Surgery,  and  Dr.  Edward  Mil- 
ler^ Lecturer  on  Clinical  Medicine.  Regu- 
lar ledlures  are  accordingly  given  on  thefe 
branches,  as  well  as  on  thole  affigned  by 
the  Regents  to  the  feveral  profeflbrs. 

One  of  the  important  advantages  of  a 
Medical  College  eftablilhed  in  a  large  city, 
is  the  facility  afforded  to  fludents  of  at- 
tending great  numbers  of  fick  perfons, 
under  proper  inftrucflors,  in  the  hofpitals. 
The  College,  therefore,  conlidered  it  of 
much  confequence  to  the  advancement  of 
medical  know^ledge,  to  furnifti  the  fludents 
with  the  beft  opportunities  for  clinical  ob- 
fervation  which  this  city  affords  ;  and  they 
mention  with  pleafure,  that  theGovernors  of 
the  New-York  hofpital  have  very  liberally 
feconded  their  views  on  this  fubjed:;  fo 
that  the  fludents  of  the  College  have  the 
privilege  of  daily  vifiting  a  large  number 
of  patients  ;  of  receiving  pradical  inflruc- 
tion  at  the  bed-fide  of  the  fick,  on  the  moft 
important  cafes  of  difeafe,  from  the  clini- 
cal lecturer,  and  of  uiing   the  valuable   li- 


{     59    ) 

brary  belonging  to  that  eftablifhment.  The 
fludents  of  the  College  have  alfo  the  pri- 
vilege of  attending  the  patients  in  the  alms- 
houfe,  and  the  clinical  lectures  on  the 
cafes  occurring  there,  by  Dr.  M*Neven, 
one  of  the  members  of  the  College. 

Early  efforts  were  made  to  provide 
for  the  College  a  chemical  apparatus,  by 
procuring  fuch  articles  as  could  be  obtain- 
ed in  the  United  States.  Meafures  have 
alfo  been  taken  to  purchafe  in  Europe 
every  thing  that  may  hereafter  be  requi- 
site for  the  m.ofl  complete  courfe  of  che- 
mical experiments ;  and  the  College  v^ill 
foon  be  furnifhed  with  an  apparatus  and 
laboratory,  for  the  le6tures  on  this  depart- 
ment of  fcience,  equal  to  thofe  found  in 
the  univerlities  of  foreign  countries. 

Every  exertion  has  alfo  been  made  to  ef- 
tablifh  an  anatomical  mufeum,  as  well  by 
procuring  and  making  preparations  here,  as 
by  obtaining  them  from  abroad ;  and  the 
College  entertain  the  rnoft  fangviine  expec- 


(     6o     ) 

rations  that  they  will  be  enabled,  in  the 
courfe  of  the  prefent  year,  to  form  a  col- 
ledion  of  anatomical  preparations,  that 
will  be  highly  interefling  and  iifeful  to 
ftudents. 

The  Botanic  Garden,  in  the  fuburbs  of 
this  city,  founded  fome  years  ago  by  the 
ProfefTor  of  botany  and  materia  medica,  is 
devoted  to  the  ufe  of  this  College,  and  fur- 
niflies  to  ftudents  ample  advantages  for 
the  ftudy  of  that  branch  of  medical  know- 
ledge. A  catalogue  of  the  numerous  plants 
contained  in  this  garden,  accompanies  this 
report. 

The  valuable  cabinet  of  mineralogy,  be- 
longing to  the  ProfefTor  of  that  branch  of 
fcience,  is  alfo  devoted  to  the  ufe  of  the  Col- 
lege. This  cabinet,  although  at  prefent  rich 
in  itfelf,  and  perhaps  equal  to  any  in  Ame- 
rica, is,  notwithftanding,  daily  increafing 
by  contributions  from  different  parts  of  this 
continent.  On  this  interefting  branch  of 
natural  knowledge,  the  ftudents  of  the  Col- 
lege have  an  opportunity  of  being  amply 


(    6i     ) 

Inftrudled ;  and  this  deferves  the  more  at- 
tention as  the  profefTorfliip  of  Mineralogy, 
in  this  College,  is  the  firft  eftablilhed  on 
this  fide  of  the  Atlantic. 

In  addition  to  thefe  advantages  for  the 
acquifition  of  natural  knowledge,  as  con- 
nected with  medicine,  the  College  contem- 
plate alfo  the  eftablifhment  of  a  national 
mufeum  of  natural  history,  including  as 
well  fpecimens  of  American  mineralogy, 
as  preparations  in  zoology  and  botany,  to 
be  preferved  and  arranged  in  a  methodi- 
cal manner.  And,  connected  with  thefe, 
will  alfo,  of  courfe,  be  found  the  produ(5ls 
of  other  countries,  for  the  purpofe  of  en- 
larging the  inftrucftion  of  the  fludent. 
This  cabinet  will  furnifli  the  profeiTor  of 
natural  hiflory  with  the  mean^s  of  giving 
the  mofl  extenfive  information  to  the  flu- 
dents  of  that  department  of  knowledge. 
Some  progrefs  has  already  been  made  in 
this  undertaking,  by  ProfejGTor  Mitchill's 
devoting  to  this  ufe  his  own  very  valuable 
colledion,   and  by  donations  from    other 


(       62       ) 

members  of  the  College.  The  example 
of  thefe  gentlemen,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will 
be  followed  by  others  in  the  different 
Hates,  from  whom  ufeful  additions  may 
occalionally  be  expe(5led. 

The  College  are  alfo  impreffed  with  the 
great  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  ef^ 
tablifhment  of  a  medical  library,  that  fhall 
contain  all  the  rare  and  valuable  works  of 
antiquity,  as  well  as  of  modern  times  ;  and 
although  the  fludents  of  the  College  have, 
at  all  times,  accefs  to  the  extenfive  library 
attached  to  the  New- York  Hofpital,  the 
utility  of  a  refpedable  library,  immedi- 
ately belonging  to  the  College,  cannot  be 
doubted.  The  Colkge  have  accordingly 
laid  the  foundation  for  fuch  an  eftablifh- 
ment  by  commencing  the  collection  of 
books.  They  have  purchafed  fome  fcarce 
and  coftly  works,  and  have  received  dona- 
tions from  members  and  others  for  thi$ 
important  objedl. 

Having  thus  made  as  ample  provifion  as 
circiimftances  would  permit,  to  afford  the 


(    63    ) 

beft  courfe  of  inftrudlion  to  their  fta- 
dents,  the  College  conceived  it  would 
contribute  materially  to  the  promotion 
of  medical  fcience,  to  eftablifh  a  corref- 
pondence  and  connexion  between  their  in- 
flitution  and  the  medical  focieties  of  every 
county  in  the  flate.  They  accordingly  en- 
tered into  fuch  correfpondence,  and  invit- 
ed the  county  focieties  to  recommend  a 
ftudent  of  medicine,  from  each  county,  to 
receive  gratuitoufly  the  inftrucflion  furnifh- 
ed  by  the  College.  As  this  meafure,  it  is 
hoped,  will  greatly  difFufe  the  benefit  of 
regular  medical  information  throughout 
the  llate,  and  eifentially  add  to  the  ref- 
peccability  and  dignity  of  the  profef- 
fion,  the  College  flatter  themfelves  it 
will  meet  the  approbation  of  the  Re- 
gents of  the  Univerfity.  The  views  of 
the  Senatus  Academicus  on  this  fubjedl, 
with  which  we  perfedlly  concur,  are  more 
particularly  fpecified  in  the  following 
circular,  tranfmitted  by  them  to  the  medi- 
cal focieties. 


{     64     ) 

Circular  Letter  from  the  Senatus  Academicus  of 

the  New-Tork    College   of   Phyfcians  and 

Surgeons^  to  the  Pref  dents   of   the  feveral 

incorporated  Medical   Societies    throughout 

the  State, 

To  the  Prefident   of  the  Medical   Society 
of  the  county  of 

Sir, 

The  Regents  of  the  Univerfity  of  this 
State,  who  are  invefted  with  the  fuperin- 
tendence  of  education  and  hterary  inflitu- 
tionSy  have  deemed  it  expedient,  in  their 
enUghtened  and  paternal  folicitude  for  the 
advancement  of  fcience,  to  eflablifh  a  Col- 
lege of  Phyficians  and  Surgeons  in  the  city 
of  New- York,  for  the  fole  purpofe  of  pro- 
moting medical  improvement  and  inftruc- 
tion.  With  the  view  of  giving  all  the  re- 
quiiite  information  on  this  fubjedl,  a  copy 
of  the  charter  is  herewith  tranfmitted. 

As  it  is  the  principal  obje6l  of  this  new 
inflitution  to  afhfl  the  progrefs  of  medical 
fcience  in  every  part  of  the  ilate  of  New- 


(     65     ) 

York,  the  members  of  it  confider  the  cul- 
tivation of  correfpondence  and  intimate 
connection  with  the  Medical  Society  of 
the  flate,  and  the  Medical  Societies  of  the 
feveral  counties,  as  one  of  their  mod  im- 
portant duties.  Accordingly,  at  the  laft 
meeting  of  the  College,  it  was  given  in 
charge  to  us,  the  underfigned,  conftituting 
the  Academic  Senate  of  that  body,  to  make 
known  to  the  refpe€live  Medical  Societies 
in  ihe  State,  the  courfe  of  proceedings  un- 
der the  Charter,  and  the  plan  which  is 
adopted  for  the  regulation  of  their  future 
condudl. 

Under  the  diredlion  and  patronage  of 
the  Regents,  the  College  of  Phyficians  and 
Surgeons  have  inflituted  a  School  of  Phyfic, 
which  it  will  be  their  unremitting  endea- 
vour to  render  equal  in  extent,  comprehen- 
iivenefs,  and  accuracy  of  inflrudlion,  to 
the  mod  diflinguilhed  Univerfities  of  Eu- 
rope. All  the  departments  of  medical  fci- 
ence,  and  fuch  auxiliary  branches  of  know- 
ledge as  are  deemed  effential  to  the  liberal 

I 


(     66     ) 

practice  of  phyiic,  will  be  carefully  taught 
in  this  School.  The  ProfefTors  have  been 
appointed  by  the  Regents  of  the  Univerfi- 
ty ;  and  the  College,  in  conformity  to  the 
Charter,  have  appointed,  in  the  recefs  of 
the  Board  of  Regents,  Ledlurers  in  all  the 
branches  of  inflrucflion  which  remained 
unprovided  with  Profeflbrs. 

In  order  more  fully  to  carry  into  efFedl 
the  liberal  and  patriotic  defign  of  the  Re- 
gents, and  to  diffufe  the  advantages  of  me- 
dical inflrudlion  throughout  the  moft  dif- 
tant  parts  of  the  (late,  we  beg  leave  to  pro- 
pofe,  that  the  Prelident  of  each  and  every 
Medical  Society  in  the  ftate  fhall,  refpec- 
tively,  defigilate  one  ftudent  of  phyiic,  of 
good  moral  character,  of  promifing  talents, 
and  of  diligent  habits,  ahd  recommend  him 
to  the  Prefident  of  our  College  of  Phyfi- 
cians  and  Surgeons ;  and  that  every  fludent 
fo  recommended,  fhall  be  admitted  to  at- 
tend the  lecflures  of  the  College  free  of  ex- 
pence.  Such  ftudent  of  phyfic  may  alfo 
rely  upon  all  the  patronage  and  protedlion 


(    67    ) 

in  the  profecution  of  his  fludies,  and  in  his 
future  eflabhlhment  in  bufinefs,  which  it 
may  be  in  the  power  of  the  College  to  grant. 
The  latenefs  of  the  feafon,  and  the  impofTi- 
bility  of  confulting  you  and  the  members 
of  your  Society,  on  the  moft  eligible  mode 
of  procedure,  induce  us  to  requeft  the  Pre- 
sidents of  the  feveral  Societies  to  undertake, 
for  the  prefent  year,  the  burden  of  this 
felecSlion,  Before  the  return  of  another 
year,  we  entertain  fanguine  expectations 
that  the  Legiflature  and  the  Regents  will 
form  an  arrangement  for  this  objedl,  which 
we  truft  will  meet  the  approbation  both  of 
the  preliding  officers  and  members  of  the 
refpe6live  Medical  Societies. 

The  advantages  which  the  College  are 
enabled  to  offer  to  (Indents  of  phyfic,  to- 
wards facilitating  and  completing  their  fyf- 
tem  of  inftrudlion,  will  be  of  the  moft  am- 
ple and  diftinguillied  kind.  An  extenfive 
anatomical  mufeum  and  chemical  apparatus 
have  been  for  fome  time  in  a  train  of  pre- 
paration :  the  cabinet  of  mineralogy,  be- 


(    68    ) 

longing  to  the  Profeflbr,  is  unequalled  in 
the  United  States  ;  and  an  extenfive  botanic 
garden,  founded  by  the  Profeflbr  of  that 
branch,  and  already  advanced  to  a  high 
degree  of  improvement,  contains  a  rich 
coUecflion  of  exotic  as  well  as  indigenous 
plants.  We  have  alfo  the  fatisfa(5lion  to 
inform  you,  that  Dr.  John  Auftin  Smith, 
of  the  Univerlity  of  William  and  Mary 
of  Virginia,  and  Member  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons  of  London,  has  agreed 
to  accept  the  appointment  of  Adjun<5t  Lec- 
turer on  Anatomy,  and  will  be  prepared  to 
commence  his  Lecflures  at  the  opening  of 
the  College. 

To  render  the  plan  of  inftrucftion  as  con- 
venient as  poflible,  a  large  and  commodi- 
ous building  is  procured  in  a  central  part 
of  the  city,  where  apartments  will  be  fitted 
up  fuitable  to  every  branch  of  teaching, 
and  provided  with  whatever  may  be  requi- 
fite  to  anfwer  the  views  both  of  the  Ledlur- 
ers  and  Students. 

The  Ledlures  in  all  the  feveral  branches 


(    69    ) 

will  commence  early  in  November  next ; 
and  it  is  therefore  expedient  that  all  Stu- 
dents who  intend  to  join  our  clafTes,  Ihould 
prefent  themfelves  in  this  city,  in  the  laft 
week  of  Odlober,  for  the  purpofe  of  mak- 
ing the  necelTary  preparations  for  entering 
on  their  fludies. 

Nicholas  Romayne,  M.  D.  Prefident, 
and  Lecturer  on  Anatomy. 

Samuel  L.  Mitchill,  M.  D.  Vice-Pre- 
fident,  and  ProfeiTor  of  Chemiftry. 

Edward  Miller,  M.  D.  ProfeiTor  of 
the  Pradlice  of  Phyfic,  and  Ledurer 
on  Clinical  Medicine. 

David  Hosack,  M.  D.  Profeflbr  of  Ma- 
teria Medica  and  Botany,  and  Lec- 
turer on  Surgery  and  Midwifery. 

Archibald  Bruce,  M.  D.  Profeflbr  of 
Mineralogy. 

B.  De  Witt,  M.  D.  Profeflbr  of  the  In- 
fl:itutes  of  Medicine,  and  Lecturer 
on  Chemifl:ry. 


(     7°     ) 

Notwithftaiiding  the  advanced  period  of 
the  year  when  this  meafure  was  adopted, 
the  College  are  pleafed  to  find  that  many  of 
the  Societies  embraced  the  propofition ; 
and  that  a  refpedlable  number  of  young 
gentlemen,  from  the  interior  of  the  ftate, 
are  now  attending  the  ledlures.  Thefe, 
when  they  return  to  their  refpedlive  homes, 
we  trufl,  will  diffufe  a  tafte  for  fcience  in 
medicine,  and  excite  a  laudable  emulation 
in  their  brethren  of  the  profeflion  ;  and 
thus  contribute  to  refcue  the  pradlice  of 
medicine  generally  from  the  hands  of  ig- 
norance and  impoflure.  The  names  and 
number  of  the  ftudents  from  the  feve- 
ral  counties  of  this  fhate,  as  well  as  from 
the  neighbouring  dates,  are  detailed  parti- 
cularly in  the  fupplemental  report  accom- 
panying this,  to  which  we  beg  leave  to  re- 
fer the  Regents. 

The  College  cannot  conclude  this  report, 
without  fubmltting  to  the  wifdom  of  your 
Board  the  following  confiderations. 

Scientific  eftablilhments,  like  this  erecfled 


(    7'     ) 

by  the  Regents  of  the  tJniverfity  for  the 
advancement  of  medical  learning,  may  juft- 
ly  be  confidered  among  the  moft  important 
and  venerable  of  all  public  inftitutions. 
The  advantages  of  them  have  been  felt  and 
acknowledged  in  all  civilized  nations  ;  and, 
accordingly,  the  number,  the  endov^ments, 
and  the  celebrity  of  them,  have  alw^ays  kept 
pace  with  the  progrefs  of  literature  and  re- 
finement. The  example  and  experience  of 
all  the  more  enlightened  parts  of  Europe, 
amply  confirm  this  afTertion.  Such  eftab- 
lifliments  produce  their  beneficial  efFe6ls  at 
all  times,  under  all  circumftances,  in  every 
condition  of  fociety,  and  under  every  form 
and  revolution  of  government.  The  dis- 
coveries they  produce,  and  the  knowledge 
they  unfold  and  difFufe,  are  calculated  in 
an  eminent  degree  to  exalt  and  advance  na- 
tional dignity.  As  they  are  relpedled  in 
all  countries  where  learning  is  cultivated, 
they  ferve,  likewife,  in  fome  of  their  con- 
fequences,  to  abate  the  animofity  of  nation- 
al difputes,    and  to  foften  the   vindidlive 


(     72     ) 

paflions  of  war.  By  cherifliing  a  fpirit  of 
univerfal  benevolence  and  improvement, 
and  by  awakening  fentiments  favourable  to 
a  liberal  and  beneficial  intercourfe  of  na- 
tions, they  tend,  in  no  fmall  degree,  to 
confolidate  the  interefls,  and  to  confecrate 
the  fraternity  of  the  great  family  of  man- 
kind. It  is  in  fuch  feminaries  of  fcience, 
foftered  by  every  wife  and  provident  legis- 
lature, that  diftinguifhed  talents  will  be 
excited  and  difplayed ;  that  they  will  be 
alFociated  for  mutual  affiftance  and  emula- 
tion ;  that  they  will  find  the  fupport  and 
encouragement  neceiTary  for  the  profecu- 
tion  of  their  labours  ;  that  their  combined 
exertions  will  be  diredled  to  the  purpofes  of 
practical  utility  ;  and  that  they  will  thereby 
be  enabled  to  lay  the  foundation  of  exten- 
five,  folid,  and  lafting  reputation,  in  the 
communities  by  which  they  are  founded. 

If  medical  fcience  were  coniidered  merely 
in  its  application  to  the  pra6lice  of  the  pro- 
fefTion,  it  might,  perhaps,  be  properly  com- 
mitted by  government  to  the  emulation  of 


(     73     ) 

individuals.  But  the  ftudy  of  medicine,  m 
its  prefent  ftate,  embraces  almofl  the  whole 
ftudy  and  knowledge  of  nature.  It  is  a 
fcience  made  up  of  a  great  number  of  fci-» 
ences.  In  proof  of  this,  it  is  fufEcient  to 
mention  its  radical  dependence  upon  Che- 
,  miftry  and  Natural  Hiftory.  On  the  cul- 
tivation of  thefe  branches  of  knowledge,  a 
great  proportion  of  all  the  arts  moft  con- 
ducive to  the  fubfiftence,  comfort,  and  em- 
belliftiment  of  human  nature,  muft  con- 
ftantly  rely  for  their  principles,  elucidation, 
and  improvement.  The  means  of  accele- 
rating our  national  progrefs,  the  develope- 
ment  and  application  of  the  immenfe  re- 
fources  which  ftill  lie  hid  in  our  country, 
and  many  of  the  moft  important  requilites 
for  public  defence  and  national  indepen- 
dence, can  only  be  drawn  forth  and  brought 
to  maturity,  under  the  guidance  of  thefe 
pra6^ical  fciences. 

Inftead  of  expenfive  eftablifliments  for 
the  cultivation  of  thefe  objedls  exclufive- 
ly,  which   are  every  where  found  in  the 

K 


(    74    ) 

European  world,  the  immature  flate  of 
fcience  at  prefent  in  the  United  States  in- 
vites us  to  conned:  fuch  branches  with  a 
medical  feminary  ;  as  the  mofl  frugal  and 
fimple  mode  of  profecuting  them  with  im- 
mediate effedl ;  and  as  the  beft  pra(flicable 
plan  of  combining,  at  one  point,  the  great- 
efl  amount  of  inftruciion  and  benefit  to 
the  community. 

While  it  is  admitted  that  the  city  of  New- 
York  will  derive  much  benefit  from  fuch 
a  liberal  eftablifhment  as  we  here  contem- 
plate, there  can  be  no  doubt  that  every  part  of 
the  country,  even  the  mofl  diftant  counties 
will  enjoy  a  flill  greater  comparative  fhare  of 
advantage.  Many  of  thefe  advantages  are 
already,  and  long  have  been,  pofTeiTed  by 
our  capital  ;  but  the  diftribution  of  them 
to  the  remote  portions  of  the  ftate,  will 
form  a  material  part  of  the  improvement. 

In  order  to  effedl  the  interefling  purpofes 
of  fvTch  an  eftablifhment,  the  aid  of  the 
government  is  indifpenfably  necefTary.  In 
fupport  of  the  common  academic  and  col- 
legiate inflitutions,  much  may  be  often  ac- 


(    75    ) 

compliflied  by  the  enterprize  of  individuals, 
and  tht  Exertions  of  voluntary  aiTociations. 
For  feats  of  learning  like  thefe,  places  of 
retirement,  of  convenient  accommodation, 
and  cheap  fubfiftence,  may  be  properly  fe- 
leded.  But,  for  a  medical  feminary,  the 
choice  of  fituation  is  unavoidably  confined 
to  populous  cities  ;  as  in  them  alone  can  be 
found  that  centre  of  intelligence  and  com- 
bination of  talents,  number  of  books,  faci- 
lities for  purfaing  anatomical  and  chemical 
enquiries,  and  finally  the  opportunities  of 
attending  the  practice  of  hofpitals,  which 
are  efTential  to  a  courfe  of  medical  educa- 
tion. The  expence,  however,  of  founding 
fuch  inflitutions  in  populous  cities  is  fo 
burdenfome  as  to  place  it  beyond  the  reach 
of  individual,  or  even  of  afTociated  exertion. 
In  feveral  of  our  fifter  ftates,  the  impor- 
tance of  thefe  inftitutions  is  beginning  to 
be  deeply  felt ;  and  endowments  for  their 
eflablifliment  are  beftowed  by  their  Legifla- 
tures,  with  a  liberal  hand.  MafTachufetts 
and  South-Carolina,  Maryland  and  Con- 
nedicut,  may  be  cited  as  examples  of  the 


(    7«    ) 

recent  difplay  of  this  munificent  fpirit. 
If  thefe  ftates  have  exhibited  a  liberality 
fo  fplendid  and  exemplary,  what  may  not 
be  expedled  from  the  ftate  of  New-York  ? 

The  benefits  refulting  from  this  patron- 
age of  fcience,  will  form  a  folid  addition 
to  the  exifting  importance  and  refources  of 
our  ftate.  And,  with  the  aid  of  fuch  bene- 
fits, fhe  will  be  enabled  more  fpeedily  to 
realize  the  high  deflinies,  to  which,  under 
the  aufpices  of  a  wife  and  parental  govern- 
ment, fhe  cannot  fail  to  be  ultimately  con- 
ducted by  her  influential  and  impofing  fi- 
tuation  in  the  Union,  by  her  extenfive  and 
fertile  territory,  by  her  growing  populouf- 
nefs,  by  the  enterprize  of  her  citizens,  and 
by  all  the  advantages  of  her  expanding  me- 
tropolis and  unrivalled  emporium. 

Done  in  the  College  of  Phyficians  and 

Surgeons,  in  the  city  of  New-York. 
L.  s.     Witnefs  the  Seal  of  the  College.  Tef^ 

tified  by  the  Regifter,  this  twenty- 

I  feventh  day  of  January,  A.  D.  1 808. 

ARCHIBALD  BRUCE,  Regi/ier, 


4<\ 


V 


J 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY   LIBRARIES 

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expiration  of  a  definite  period  after  the  date  of  borrowing,  as 
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the  Librarian  in  charge. 


DATE  BORROWED 


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DATE  BORROWED 


1 


C28(1158)100M 


SCO 
|CD 
=CD 
=00 

=o 

SO 

=o 
go 


M-R747.C7 
R66 


C.2 


ectures,   in  the 
ns  and  surgeons 

if  >?  ' — ' 


'-,^7^f.^7 


c 


7*\ 


aouNo 
OCT  13  1960 


